Best Tgss Podcasts (2024)

1
Asian Territorial Deity Cosmologies as Vehicles for the Transmission of Buddhadharma (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 40:51

1M ago40:51

40:51

Robert Mayer's analysis of Guru Chowang's enduring connection between territorial deity cosmologies and the preservation of hidden teachings in Tibetan Buddhism Academic scholars are accustomed to understanding gter as sacred texts often associated with Padmasambhava, within a cult deriving historically from ancient imperial burials. Yet the great …

1
Nāgas and relic treasures in the Mahāvaṃsa (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 41:46

2M ago41:46

41:46

Kristin Scheible uncovers the hidden role of nāgas in defining Buddhist treasures and explores their surprising significance in safeguarding sacred relics through early texts Much of the literature on nāgas in Indian Buddhist monasticism has focused on their rain-making and monastery-protecting duties. However, early Buddhist texts are full of narr…

1
Recalibrating the Perspective on Tibetan and Himalayan History: Identity- and Nation-Building in Bhutan (Transcript)

9M ago

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In this talk, Dr. Dagmar Schwerk presents the work-in-progress of her current research project, an investigation into identity- and nation-building in eighteenth-century Bhutan In this talk, Dr. Dagmar Schwerk presents the work-in-progress of her current research project, an investigation into identity- and nation-building in eighteenth-century Bhu…

1
Recalibrating the Perspective on Tibetan and Himalayan History: Identity- and Nation-Building in Bhutan 42:52

9M ago42:52

42:52

In this talk, Dr. Dagmar Schwerk presents the work-in-progress of her current research project, an investigation into identity- and nation-building in eighteenth-century Bhutan In this talk, Dr. Dagmar Schwerk presents the work-in-progress of her current research project, an investigation into identity- and nation-building in eighteenth-century Bhu…

1
‘Treasures’ (gter ma) and treasure-finders in Yungdrung Bön: a Tibetan tradition spanning a thousand years (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 50:58

1y ago50:58

50:58

This talk presents an outline of the Yungdrung Bön ’Treasure’ tradition The Tibetan Bön religion, often called Yungdrung (‘Eternal’) Bön by its adherents, arose in Central Tibet at the same time as the ‘Latter Propagation’ (phyi dar) of Buddhism, i.e. in the 10th-11th century CE. In fact, it shares many traits with the Latter Propagation, and may b…

1
Yoginīs, Revelation, and Hidden Knowledge in Tantric Śaivism (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 33:52

1y ago33:52

33:52

This presentation examines Śākta transformations of conceptions of revelation and the transmission of esoteric knowledge in Mantramārga Śaivism This presentation examines Śākta transformations of conceptions of revelation and the transmission of esoteric knowledge in Mantramārga Śaivism. In particular, the presentation focuses on representations of…

1
Nectar, Water, or Blood? A Buddhist History of Perceptual Relativism 46:03

1y ago46:03

46:03

In this talk, Jacob Fisher presents his research on a history of the Buddhist discussions surrounding perceptual relativism, in India and Tibet Indian and Tibetan epistemologists have spent millennia grappling with the central philosophical questions of relativism and intersubjectivity. This talk will present my ongoing DPhil research that attempts…

1
A Chorus of Voices Chanting the Names of Mañjuśrī Rong-zom Chos-kyi-bzang-po’s Commentary on the Nāmasaṅgīti, and Its Indian Sources 53:54

1y ago53:54

53:54

Nicola Bajetta takes us through Rongzom Chökyi Zangpo's commentary on the Nāmasaṅgīti, a hymn of praise dedicated to Mañjuśrī Among the circa thirty-two extant works by the seminal rNying-ma scholar Rong-zom Chos-kyi-bzang-po (11th–12th cent.), his Explanation in Three Points (rNam gsum bshad pa) is one of the earliest autochthonous Tibetan comment…

1
Sūtra in Early Buddhist Treasure Texts (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 50:51

1+ y ago50:51

50:51

Reinier Langelaar’s talk on early Tibetan treasure literature’s influences, inspirations, and narrative themes Early Tibetan treasure literature was pivotal in the development of a distinctly Buddhist vision of Tibetan history. In formulating such narratives, two influential early works, the Ma-ṇi-bka’-‘bum and the Bka’-chems-ka-khol-ma, appear to …

1
Early Teachings on the Four Phurpas and the Relationship between the Revelatory and Transmitted Textual Tradition (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 41:30

1+ y ago41:30

41:30

Early teachings on the Four Phurpas in the light of the Eightfold Buddha Word, Embodying the Sugatas (bka' brgyad bde gshegs 'dus pa) revelation of Myang ral Nyi ma 'od zer (1124-1192), and the relationship between the Revelatory (gter ma) and Transmitted Myang ral's twelfth century revealed corpus of the Eightfold Buddha Word, Embodying the Sugata…

1
Exploring relationships between theory of practice and practice by looking at the Abhisamayālaṃkāra in Gelukpa scholasticism 51:58

1+ y ago51:58

51:58

Chandra Ehm's investigation into the foundations of the Geluk monastic curriculum The commentarial corpus of the Abhisamayālaṃkāra, as we find it in the scholarship of the gelukpa tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, clearly outlines soteriological paths on how to achieve the religious goal of enlightenment. These scriptures are studied, debated, and con…

1
The Transformation of Nyingma Identity: Some Key Developments in Contemporary Nyingma Monastic Education 45:51

1+ y ago45:51

45:51

Nicholas Hobhouse on Developments in Contemporary Nyingma Monastic Education This presentation, which draws upon the speaker’s ongoing PhD research, will examine some of the key developments that have taken place in Nyingma monastic education, both in ‘exile’ and inside Eastern Tibet, since the ruptures brought about by the Maoist invasion of the 1…

1
Forms of Buddhist treasures (re)discovered in Kalmykia (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 35:10

1+ y ago35:10

35:10

Valeriya Gazizova's talk on several cases of ‘treasure’ concealment and discoveries in the Buddhist society of postsocialist Kalmykia I shall discuss several cases of ‘treasure’ concealment and discoveries that can be somewhat subsumed under the broader category of Tibetan gter ma in the Buddhist society of postsocialist Kalmykia. Whether scriptura…

1
Exploring Rendawa’s Madhyamaka Legacy 39:24

1+ y ago39:24

39:24

Drukgyel Tsering's talk on Rendawa Shonu Lodro (1349–1412), the famed teacher of Lama Tsongkhapa and important progenitor of Madhyamaka philosophy in Tibet Red mda' ba gzhon nu blo gros (1349–1412) was one of the most exceptional scholars in 13th and early 14th century Tibet. He played a critical role in bringing Madhyamaka philosophy back to the a…

1
The Rgyud sde spyi rnam ascribed to Rin chen bzang po (958–1055) and its authoritative sources 41:17

1+ y ago41:17

41:17

Sonam Choden discusses Lo tsā ba Rin chen bzang po's composition of his "General Presentation of the Tantric Systems" and its authoritative sources While numerous Indian works translated by Lo-chen Rin-chen-bzang-po (958–1055) have been transmitted through the Tibetan Buddhist Canon and are thus easily available, works composed (or believed to have…

1
How Tibetans Received and Perceived the Yuan Edicts: Some Preliminary Observations 37:51

1+ y ago37:51

37:51

This lecture highlights Tibetan responses to the Mongol imperial bureaucratic practices during the 14th century The value of government documents for studying the 13–14th-century Tibetan history has long been recognized. But we do not know much about the procedures of drafting, issuing, translating, announcing, and receiving these documents. With t…

1
Theorizing Buddhist Revelation in the Great Lamp of the Dharma Dhāraṇī Scripture (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 45:44

1+ y ago45:44

45:44

The Great Lamp of the Dharma Dhāraṇī Scripture and its theory on scriptual revelation in the Mahāyāna tradition. The Great Lamp of the Dharma Dhāraṇī Scripture (Da faju tuoluoni jing 大法炬陀羅尼經), extant only in a late sixth-century Chinese translation, purports to transform the wielder of its dhāraṇī into a perfect Buddhist preacher (fashi 法師, *dharma…

1
A typology of modes of revelations in Chinese religious history (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 45:00

1+ y ago45:00

45:00

Vincent Goossaert's talk on the ritual production of revelation in Chinese religious history This talk will provide an overview of the modes of producing revelations in Chinese religious history, based on my recently published book Making the Gods Speak (Cambridge, Harvard University Asia Center, 2022). It will focus on a five-fold typology of mode…

1
Towards a textual discourse analysis of Longchenpa’s writings on Buddha nature 54:14

1+ y ago54:14

54:14

Gregory Forgues presents his research on Longchenpa's writings on Buddha nature This presentation offers a new perspective on the discourse of Longchenpa (Klong chen rab ’byams pa dri med ’od zer 1308–1363) regarding the central doctrinal concept of bde gshegs snying po (*sugatagarbha), a synonym for de gshegs snying po (tathāgatagarbha). Longchenp…

1
Variants of the Rudra Subjugation Myth: Contrasting Themes in the Legends of Mahākāla and Vajrabhairava (Transcript)

1+ y ago

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Cameron Bailey's talk on wrathful deities and their myths While the Rudra/Maheśvara subjugation myth is well known in Tantric Studies there exist a great number of variant retellings of it in the Tibetan literary record which have largely been overlooked by scholarship.This presentation will discuss two cycles of less-well known versions of this ce…

1
Variants of the Rudra Subjugation Myth: Contrasting Themes in the Legends of Mahākāla and Vajrabhairava 48:39

1+ y ago48:39

48:39

Cameron Bailey's talk on wrathful deities and their myths While the Rudra/Maheśvara subjugation myth is well known in Tantric Studies there exist a great number of variant retellings of it in the Tibetan literary record which have largely been overlooked by scholarship.This presentation will discuss two cycles of less-well known versions of this ce…

1
The Rise of Guru Yoga in Twelfth-Century Tibet 36:03

2y ago36:03

36:03

Zim Pickens looks at the origins of guru or lama worship in Tibet, introducing us to the Indian antecedents and the Tibetan emphasis on the role and status of the lama. In the twelfth century, Indian and Tibetan Buddhist authors drew from doctrinal and scriptural sources to promote new rites for worshipping the guru in the manner of a buddha. First…

1
Treasure Hunting in the Philippine Islands (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 41:21

2y ago41:21

41:21

Where to Look for the Missing Plunder of Pirates, Ghosts, Rebels, Fairies, Colonisers, and Dictators Lost treasure is a recurrent motif in Philippine folklore. Treasure-seeking heroes are ordinary individuals who seek access to riches that have fallen under the jurisdiction of supernatural entities. Yet success is by no means guaranteed. Claimants …

1
Treasure Traditions in Greece (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) (Transcript)

2y ago

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Charles Stewart's surveys the diversity of treasure traditions in Greece In this talk I will survey the diversity of treasure traditions in Greece. Treasures may take many forms beyond objects buried with the intention of later recovery by their owners. In general, treasures are valuables currently hidden and thus mainly objects of the imagination,…

1
Treasure Traditions in Greece (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 1:00:32

2y ago1:00:32

1:00:32

Charles Stewart's surveys the diversity of treasure traditions in Greece In this talk I will survey the diversity of treasure traditions in Greece. Treasures may take many forms beyond objects buried with the intention of later recovery by their owners. In general, treasures are valuables currently hidden and thus mainly objects of the imagination,…

1
Displacement: Tibetan Buddhist Contributions to the International Humanitarian Field 39:40

2y ago39:40

39:40

Dr Kilby's talk explores Tibetan Buddhist perspectives on displacement that can inform the international humanitarian response to the displacement crisis The world’s displaced population breaks new records each year and has now climbed to more than 100 million people. What insights can Buddhist traditions—and Tibetan traditions in particular—offer …

1
Dharmabhāṇakas, Siddhas, Avatārakasiddhas, and gTer stons (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 49:21

2y ago49:21

49:21

This lecture offers a new look at the origins of Gter ma literature in an intertextual framework. Academic authors on the origins of gter ma have generally agreed that the evolution of the gter ma traditions in Tibet must be seen as a confluence of both Indian and Tibetan influences. Yet surprisingly little effort has so far gone into researching t…

1
Early Explanations for the Appearance of Mahāyāna sūtras (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 42:26

2y ago42:26

42:26

A presentation looking at how early Mahayana sutras explain where they came from. This presentation argues that the authors of these texts shared a general understanding that the Buddha revealed them to advanced bodhisattvas during his lifetime and appointed them with the task of returning to the world five hundred years later to reveal and spread …

1
Revelation and Rediscovery: Early Medieval Indian Origin Myths of the Tantras (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 45:27

2+ y ago45:27

45:27

David Gray talks about revelatory or "treasure" texts from Indian and Tibetan perspectives in a comparative framework. This presentation will attempt to shed some light on the process by which tantras are believed to have been revealed in the world in Indian Buddhist tantric traditions. Unfortunately, we have very little information about the actua…

1
Perfected Beings in Human Form: The Siddha Tradition in Śaiva Tantra (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 49:15

2+ y ago49:15

49:15

John Nemec's talk on the origin of siddha and its polysemic application in Sanskrit textual sources. It is well known that the term “siddha” comes to be used to refer to Śaiva, and other, masters who enter the earth in bodily form, as perfected beings thus authorized to teach. Often, they are described as having “crossed down” to this world, bringi…

1
The Dharmabhāṇaka’s Body and the Ontologization of Authority (Oxford Treasure Seminar Series) 42:20

2+ y ago42:20

42:20

This talk by Natalie Gummer explores the role of Dharmabhāṇaka – those who recite the Dharma – in Mahāyāna Sutras In this presentation, Natalie Gummer looks at the “Chapter on the Benefits to the Performer of the Dharma” (dharmabhāṇakānuśaṃsāparivartaḥ) in the Saddharmapuṇḍarīka (Lotus Sūtra), in which the Buddha proclaims the many remarkable trans…

1
Medicine Mountains along the Himalayas: Healing, Trade, and Ecology 1:00:45

3+ y ago1:00:45

1:00:45

The Greater Himalayas extend through many different kinds of community. This lecture considers several ‘medicine mountains’, particular mountains that fold society and ecology together, and explores them as a comparative categoryBy Will Tuladhar-Douglas

1
Why Go on Pilgrimage? Geomancy and the Transformational Powers of Sacred Places in Tibetan Buddhism and Bon 1:01:30

3+ y ago1:01:30

1:01:30

This presentation considers the association between pilgrimage and healing in Tibet through an exploration of the process whereby natural sites are imbued with meaning This presentation considers the association between pilgrimage and healing in Tibet through an exploration of the process whereby natural sites are imbued with meaning. The qualities…

1
Reading khrims Between the Lines: The Rise of Legality in 13th Century Central Tibet 46:07

3+ y ago46:07

46:07

Daniel introduces us to the term khrims and looks at the “rise of legality” in 13th century Central Tibet. What were Tibetan ideas concerning the relationship between law and power?In the search for answers to whether “law” (khrims) existed in pre-modern Tibet, previous scholarship has uncovered new aspects of khrims’ semantic and functional spectr…

1
Virūpa is Virūpākṣa: Towards an Indo-Tibetan Siddha Corpus 37:46

3+ y ago37:46

37:46

Westin Harris opens the dialogue between Tibetan, Nāth and Yoga studies centred around the figure of Virūpa As the supposed originator of haṭhayoga’s Buddhist “source text,” the legendary siddha called Virūpa has arisen as a key figure of interest in Yoga and Nāth Studies. Nonetheless, such discourses continue to underappreciate the value of Tibeta…

1
Buddhism and Gender Perspectives in Sikkim: Historical and Contemporary Approaches 37:30

3+ y ago37:30

37:30

The talk explores the historical and contemporary influence of women in Sikkim from a Buddhist perspective Sikkim is a former Buddhist kingdom in the Himalayas that was once blessed by Padmasambhava and prophesied as a so-called sbas yul, a sacred hidden land. So far, the lives and deeds of Tibetan masters who visited and helped shape Sikkim have b…

1
Connections in the Making and Meaning of the Art of Bhutan and Tibet in the 17 th and 18 th Centuries: A Study of the Wall Paintings at Tango Monastery 47:46

3+ y ago47:46

47:46

Pu Lan discusses her PhD project, which explores the 17th-century Monastery of Tango and how it illustrates the development of wall painting technology in Bhutan The Kingdom of Bhutan retains an exceptional heritage of Buddhist wall paintings dating from the early 16 th century to the present. As one of the most significant sites the Utse (central …

1
The Geluk Domestication of Tantra 54:23

3+ y ago54:23

54:23

Brenton Sullivan presents his new book "Building a Religious Empire: Tibetan Buddhism, Bureaucracy, and the Rise of the Gelukpa" and discuss the third chapter, "Institutionalizing Tantra", in more detail In his new book, "Building a Religious Empire Tibetan Buddhism, Bureaucracy, and the Rise of the Gelukpa (UPenn Press, 2020)" Sullivan utilizes co…

1
The Mongolian Kanjur - Should Tibetologists Care? 39:53

3+ y ago39:53

39:53

Kirill Alekseev presents his latest research on the Mongolian Kanjur and its ramifications in Tibetan Studies The Mongolian Kanjur is a voluminous collection of sacred Buddhist texts structured in a specific way. It owes its name, origin, and to a great extent, its arrangement and contents to a similar Tibetan set of Buddhist scriptures. At times i…

1
Layers of Protection: Everyday Life with Empowered Objects 41:09

3+ y ago41:09

41:09

In her talk, Inger Vasstveit discusses “empowered objects” - small Buddhist objects that people wear on their person - in relation to the broader socio-political and cosmological environment in India In this talk, I will focus on vital aspects connected to the ways Tibetans use and understand empowered objects. The term "empowered objects" refers t…

1
Death by Poisoning: Cautionary Narratives and Inter-Ethnic Accusations in Contemporary Sikkim 44:22

3+ y ago44:22

44:22

Kikee Bhutia talks about the contemporary discourses around ‘othering’ in Sikkim and analyse the region’s inter-ethnic challenges This presentation explores the vernacular discourse surrounding the ambiguous nature of Dhuk lha (Poison deity) in Sikkim. Before its merger with India in 1975, Sikkim was a Himalayan Buddhist kingdom ruled by the Chogya…

1
Fervent admiration and devotion: Exploring devotional literature in the collected works of the 3rd Dodrupchen 28:26

3+ y ago28:26

28:26

Renée Ford's introduction to the devotional literature in the collected works of the 3rd Dodrupchen composed in admiration of his late teacher Jamyang Khyentse Wangpo. Devotion is a primary category in Tibetan Nyingma Buddhism The Third Dodrupchen Jigme Tenpa’i Nyima (1865-1926) writes in his The Excellent Way How Guru Yoga Bestows Highest Wisdom h…

1
The Role of Prophecies in the Construction of the Geluk Tradition 42:33

3+ y ago42:33

42:33

In this talk, Michael Ium explores the role of prophecies in the legitimation and construction of the Geluk tradition. The focus of this presentation is the role of prophecies in the early history of Ganden Monastery and the construction of the Geluk tradition. Beginning with those articulated during Tsongkhapa’s own life, more and more prophecies …

1
Liu pin fo lou (Building of Six Classes of Sutra and Tantra), the Tibetan Buddhist pantheon in the Forbidden City 30:13

3+ y ago30:13

30:13

Ziyi Shao takes us to the reign of the Qianlong Emperor and will show us around the Fan hua lou (Hall of Buddhist Efflorescence), one of the most complex and prominent Buddhist monuments in the Forbidden city Fan hua lou (Hall of Buddhist Efflorescence) is one of the most complex and prominent Buddhist monuments in the Forbidden city Constructed du…

1
Culture of Emotions: Uses and Interpretations of Musical Heritage in the Tibetan Refugee Community of Dharamsala 36:35

4y ago36:35

36:35

Chloé Lukasiewicz talk on the significance of music in the Tibetan refugee community in Dharamsala, India Little work on emotions in migration exists in anthropology, and ethnomusicology has not yet invested much in this field of research. Nor has such an approach been developed in Tibetan studies either, particularly in the related music-ethnologi…

1
Buddhism and the Rise of ‘the Tibetans’ (bod pa): Religion, Myth and the Promotion of Ethnicity in the Pre-modern Period 44:59

4y ago44:59

44:59

Apropos 'the Tibetans': Reinier Langelaar's talk focuses on the mythical origins and the promotion of ethnicity in historical Tibet There are ongoing interdisciplinary debates concerning the age and origins of inter-regional collective identities. Although recent work on “ethnicity” and “nationalism” has repeatedly highlighted the role of religion …

1
Human Remains in Tibetan Material Religion: An object centered approach 32:07

4y ago32:07

32:07

Ayesha Fuentes shares a unique and interdisciplinary insight into art conservation of human remains in Tibetan material religion This talk introduces research into the use and instrumentalization of human remains in Tibetan material religion – as skull vessels, bone ornaments, thighbone trumpets and the double-sided skull drum – through an object-c…

1
Sacred Trash, Trash Talks, And Personhood 41:37

4y ago41:37

41:37

Bo Wang discussing the practice of depositing garments as offerings to sacred mountains in Eastern Tibet Different interpretations of what constitutes “trash” can reveal complex interactions between Tibetans and Han Chinese in the Eastern Himalayas. This talk adopts the term “trash talk” to illuminate how the Tibetan practice of depositing garments…

1
The First Tibetan Block Print: The Khara-Khoto Collection of Precious Dhāraṇīs with the Emperor's Postscript 35:45

4y ago35:45

35:45

Alla Sizova discusses the role of translation activities in the spread of Buddhism in the 12th century and outlines the extent of Tibetan influence on the Tangut culture. In the 12th century the spread of Buddhism in the Tangut Empire, including its translation and publication activities, reached its peak. From the colophons of the surviving texts,…

1
Weekend Wrap Up - Boys Night 26:08

4y ago26:08

26:08

Hey Shorties! This episode we cover Rob’s failing veganism, prison rules uno, and sleeping on planes. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/twoguysinshortyshorts/support

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